Bio-ecological drainage systems (bioecods): an integrated approach for urban water environmental planning
2004
Nor Azazi Zakaria | Takara, K. | Rozi Abdullah | Lariyah Mohd. Sidek | Aminuddin Ab. Ghani
This paper outlines the national approach to stormwater management in Malaysia, and evolving implementation practices by State and Local government authorities. The process of departing from the traditional, mono disciplinary approach is currently going on in Malaysia. Goals of stormwater management have already shifted from the traditional storm drainage and "end of pipe" approaches towards sustainable ecological solutions more in peace with nature. The new approach is based on a deeper understanding of the cyclicity of material and energy flows in nature. The research focused on new concepts for the urban stormwater runoff and the water quality management based on integrated stormwater solutions. The USM Engineering campus is a pilot project for urban stormwater management strategy as an example of an ecologically sustainable development based approach to urban stormwater management. The concept is based on integrating stormwater best management practices into urban planning and design to achieve multiple objectives, is the most promising approach in newly developing or urbanizing areas. This paper aims to introduce such an alternative - the "Principle of Control-at-Source: namely "Bio-Ecological Drainage systems (BIOECODS)". The main function is to promote stormwater infiltration from impermeable areas (e.g roof tops, car parks) by using bio-ecological swales. The second function is to release gradually the stormwater through the use of bio-ecological swales, on-line underground bio-ecological detention storages and bio-ecological dry ponds. Finally, the function of BIOECODS is to enhance treatment of stormwater quality using treatment train concept by utilising bio-ecological swales and bio-ecological ponds (e.g. wet pond, wetland) as the storm water moves downstream. This paper first introduces the basic principles of the concept followed by a description of technical details and preliminary results obtained. Details of the construction activities, costs and market acceptance highlight the potential for the adoption of similar practices elsewhere. Through the research some engineering problems are identified, the importance of which should not be underestimated to achieve the integrated approach for urban water environmental planning.
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